Advertising device



June 12, 1923. 1458,1180

J. H. HAMMOND, JR

ADVERTISING DEVICE Original Filedflune l, 1916 2 Sheets-Sheet 2ooooooofiifl bgfio 09533 10000000 0 o o o o o o 92, '69 k C) o o o o o oo o o o o o o o 5) o 0 (Q o o o o o o o o o b o o o o (if, 3) o o 2 0 oo o o o o 5 -((:e;},H@i)}6@-(@+--eo o (e2) 0 o (592, (is) o o o o o o oo o o 0 o o 0 Q 21 o o (fgj; o o o o o gamn xnnmmm "WE/V 70R "HEM-Q H/SATTORNEY Patented am i2, teas.

lhtl mm PATENT @FFlfiE.

' JOHN HAYS HAB1IMOND, JR, OF GllOlJ'CESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

anvian'rrsme DEVICE.

Application filed June 1, 1916, Serial No. 101,106. Renewed October 5,1921. Serial Ito. 505,565.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN HAYS HAM- MOND, Jr., a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Gloucester, county of Essex, State ofMassachusetts, have invent ed certain new and useful Improvements inAdvertising Devices, of which the following is a'specification.

Some of the objects of this invention are to provide an improvedadvertising device in which any desired line, figure, symbol ordesignmay be conveniently caused to appear by the successive or thesimultaneous illumination of a corresponding number of lamps; to providein an illuminated advertising device improved means for controladiagrammatic plan view of an illuminated advertising device constructedin accordance with this invention; Fig.2 is an enlarged diagrammaticview of the advertising device shown in Fig. 1 but with the principalparts shown in longitudinal section, and for convenience in a differentarrangement from that shown in Fi 1 and with some of the detailsomitted; %ig. 3 is a'fragmenta'ry diagrammatic view of a modified formof this invention showing the parts enlarged and in longitudinal sectionwith many of the details omitted; Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of adevice constructed in accordance with this invention for simultaneouslycontrolling. a plurality of lamps inthe form of this invention shown inFigs. 1 and 2; Fig. 5.is a longitudinal section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of a modified form of device forsimultaneously controlling a plurality of lamps in the r form of thisinvention shown in Fig. 3; Fig.

7 is a longitudinal section on line 7-7 of Fig. 6; and Fig. 8 is anenlarged transverse section on line 8-8 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, one embodiment of this invention comprises anilluminating device 10 including a flat rigid base 11 preferably made ofinsulating material such as glass, porcelain or any other suitablematerial upon which are rigidly secured a plurality of suit-able sockets12 in which are arranged a corresponding plurality of electric lamps 15.The lamps 15 may be arranged in any suitable manner but in the form ofthis invention shown inthe drawings these lamps are arranged in'the sameplane and at the points of intersection of one series of parallelequispaced lines with another series of parallel equi-spaced lines whichintersect the first mentioned series at right angles thereto formingsquares, all of the lines being arranged in the same plane. For thepurpose of protection the lamps 15 may be arranged within a suitablerectangular frame. 16 which is secured to the base 11 and whichmarginally supports a flat rectangular plate 17 of glass or othertransparent or translucent material which extends over the lamps.

For controlling the lamps 15 a controlling device 25 is providedcomprising a flat rigid base 26 of insulating material such, forinstance, as glass or fiber, or of any other suitable material, spacedabove and parallel to which is a flat substantially rigid platform 27formed of insulating material such, for instance, as glass or fiber, orany other suitable material, which is held in parallel and fixedrelationship to the base 26 by means of any suitable posts 28 which ane'terminally secured to the base 26 and to the platform 27. Ri g lall'ysecured to and projecting upwardly from the platform 27 are a pluralityof pairs of resilient yielding contacts 30. The two contacts 30 of eachpair of these contacts extend through the platform 27 and are connectedrespectively by a conductor 31 to one terminal of a corresponding lamp15, and by a -conductor 32 to a common conductor 33 which leads to onepole of a battery 34, the other pole of which is connected by a commonconductor 35 and a branch conductor 36 with the other terminal of thecorresponding lamp 15.

' Between each pair of yielding contacts 30 is arranged a downwardlytapering plug or: switch member 40 which is circular in crpss sectionthroughout its length and made of conducting material such as iron orother suitable magnetic material, and the upper portion of which issurrounded by a substantially cylindrical collar 41 made of insulatingmaterial such, for instance, as fiber, which 1s rigidly secured to theplug 40 and which is arranged to be engaged by the correspondingyielding contacts 30 when the plug 40 is in an inoperative osition withits lower end in contact with t e latform 27. The upper portions of theyiel ing contacts 30 are preferably concave in transverse section asshown in Fig. 8 so as to maintain the plu 40 at all times in positionssubstantial y perpendicular to the platform 27. The plugs 40 arearranged in a manner similar to the arran ement of the lamps 15. Spacedabove the p ugs 40 when the plu s are in inoperative positions is a flatsu stantially rigid, comparatively thin transparent plate of insulatingmaterial, such, for instance, as glass or other suitable ma 'terial,which is arranged in a plane parallel to the platform 27 and which ismarginally and rigidly secured to and supported by a rectangular ri idframe 51 which surrounds and is spaced from the platform 27 and which isprovided with a flat rectangular flange 52 ri id therewith andprojecting outwardly t erefrom. For holding the frame 51 yieldingly inposition, a plurality of bolts 55 extend loosely through correspondingapertures 56 provided therefor in the flange 52 andare rigidly securedto the base 26. The upper ends of these bolts 55 are provided with heads57 arranged to limit the upward movement of the frame 51. Surroundingeach bolt 55 and between the flange 52 and the base 26 is a spiralspring 58 which is normally1 compressed and normall tends to force t eframe 51 up wardly into its uppermost position.

For pressing the frame 51 downwardly to move the plugs 40 simultaneouslyinto inoperative positions, a pair of parallel shafts 60 are arrangedabove and parallel'to the opposit/e ends of the flan e 52 and aresuported to rotate about xed axes in spaced earings provided therefor instandards 61 projecting upwardly from and rigid with the base 26.Surrounding and rigidly secured to each shaft 60 are a pair of coaxialcylindrical cams 62 which are arranged eccentrically with respect to thecorresponding shafts 60. These cams 62 engage aainst the upper surfaceof the flange 52. lgidly secured to the ends of each shaft 60respectively are a pair of crank arms 65, and each crank arm '65 of oneshaft 60 is pivotally connected to one end of a link 66, the other endof which is pivotally connected to the end of the corresponding crankarm 65 of the other shaft 60, and each link 66 is provided at one endwith the handle 67 for convenient operation.

The oonstrnction is such that by moving. the handle 67 towards light romthe -ition shown in Fig. 2, the came 62 will mtatedin each direction asto press the frame 51 downwardly and to cause the plate 50 to pressdownwardly and into inoperative positions the plugs 40 which may havebeen in operative positions at the beginning of the downward movement ofthe plate 50. By then moving the handle 67 towards the left the frame 51will be allowed to be pressed upwardly by the springs 58 while the plugs40 will remain in inoperative positions. For lifting or movingsuccessively any number of the plugs 40 an electromagnetic tracer isprovided comprising a core 70 of soft iron, which is preferably taperedat one end as at 71 and is surrounded by a coil 72 of insulated wire,one end of which is connected by a flexible conductor 73 with one poleof a stationary battery 74, the othe pole of which is connected by aflexible conductor 75 to the other end of the coil 72. By holding thecore 7 0 in a position perpendicular to the plate 50 and moving the coreover the plate with the small end 71 of the core against the plate,- anynumber of the plugs 40 may be magnetically attracted from an inoperativeinto an operative position at the will of the operator. When any plug 40is in its uppermost position against the plate 50 the cylindrical collar41 is above the corresponding yielding contacts 30 and allows theyielding contacts 30 to engage against the surface of the plug 40, thusclosing the circuit between the corresponding ylelding contacts 30 andcausing an illumination of the corresponding lamp 15. Thus, by suitablymoving the core 70, any desired line, figure, symbol or design may bedisplayed in lighted lamps by the illuminating device 10, and all of thelighted lamps may be extinguished at any time by suitably moving thehandle 67 of the controlling device as hereinbefore described;

In the modified form of this invention shown in Fig. 3, the illuminatingdevice 10 is constructed as hereinbefore described, but instead of thehereinbefore described electromagnetic controlling device 25, a modifiedform of controlling device is utilized which comprises a flat rigid baseof insulating material, to which are secured a plurality of pairs ofyielding contacts 81 which extend through the base 80, one contact-81 ofeach pair being connected by a conductor 82 to one terminal of acorresponding lamp 15, and the other yielding contact 81 of each pairbeing connected by a branch conductor 83 to a return conductor 84leading to one pole of a battery 85, the other pole-of which isconnected to a com mon conductor 86 which is connected by a branchconductor 87 to the other contact of each corresponding lamp 15. Spacedabove the base 80 and parallel thereto is a rigid rectangular frame 90;which surrounds and mar inal-ly supports a. flat substantially rigirectangular plate 91 of insulating inanesaieo terial such, for instance,as glass, rigidly secured to the frame 90. This plate 91 is providedwith a plurality of circular apertures 92 which are arranged inalinemcnt respectively with the pairs of yielding contacts 81. In eachaperture 92 is loosely arranged a plug 93 of-conducting material such,for instance, as brass, which tapers inwardly and the inner portion ofwhich is covered by a cap 94 of insulating material such, for instance,as fiber or other suitable material which, when the plug 93 is in itsinoperative position shown in Fig. 3, rests against the correspondingyielding contacts 81 and insulates these contacts from the plug.

The plug 93 is provided with a head 95 of insulating material, which isrigidly secured to the plug 93 and which is normally spaced above theplate 91 when the plug is in an inoperative position as shown in Fig. 3.When the plug 93 is pressed downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 3to its lowermost position, with its head 95 in contact with the plate91, then the cap 94 is moved downwardly out of engagement with theyielding contacts 81 which are allowed to move into engagement with thelug 93 and thus close the circuit between t e contacts 81 and thus causethe illumination of the corresponding lamp 15. The yielding contacts 81and the plugs 93 are arranged in a manner similar to and correspondingto the arrangement of the lamps 15, each lamp 15 being provided with acorresponding pair of yielding contacts 81 and plug 93.

For simultaneously moving any number of the plugs 93 from operative intoinoperative positions, each end of the frame 90 is provided with a flatflange 96 integral and rigid therewith, and which is arranged parallelto the base 80. Between each flange 96 and the base 80 is arranged ashaft 97 which is mounted to rotate about a fixed axis coincident withits longitudinal axis in suitable bearings 98 projecting upwardly fromand rigid with the base 80. R1 idly secured to each shaft 97 is acylindrica cam 99, the longitudinal axis of which is parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the shaft 97. Each shaft 97 is also provided with acrank arm 100 rigidly secured thereto, and the outer end of the crankarm 100 of one shaft 97 is pivotally connected to one end of a link 101,the other end of which is pivotally connected to the crank arm 100 ofthe other shaft 97. One end of the link 101 is provided with a handle102, and the construction is such that when the handle 102 is moved inone direction the cams 99 will be rotated in. such a manner, as to raisethe frame 90 and to simultaneously move or lift any number of plugs 93from operative into inoperative ositions, and when the handle 102 ismove in the o posite direction the cams 99 will be move in such adirection as to permit the frame 90 to move downwardly into the positionshown in Fig. 3. The frame 90 is restrained to move in a predeterminedpath towards and away from the base 80 by means of a plurality of bolts105 which are rigid with the base 80 and which extend loosely throughapertures 106 provided therefor in the flanges 96. The tapered end ofeach bolt 105 is provided with a head 107, and surrounding each boltbetween its head 107 and the flange 96 is a normally compressed spiralspring 108, which always tends to force the corresponding flange 96against the corresponding cam 99. In this modified form shown in Fig. 3,when it is desired to cause, the illumination of any number of lamps thecorresponding plugs 93 are pressed down manually, and when it is desiredto extinguish the lamps the h ndle 102 is moved towards the left fromthe position shown in Fig. 3, thus raising all of the plugs which havebeen pressed downwardly and breaking the circuits through the plugs 93.

For simultaneously lighting any predetermined number and arrangement ofthe lamps in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2,thisinvention provides means comprising (see Figs. 4c and 5) a flatsubstantially rigid rectangular base 110 made of insulating materialsuch, for instance as glass, porcelain or fiber, and of approximatelythe same length and width as the len h and width-of the hereinbeforedescri d frame 51. Surrounding and rigidly secured to this base 110 is arectangular frame 111-which, for convenience of operation, is providedwith handles 112 rigidly secured thereto. The frame 111 is proportionedto fit snugly but slidably around the hereinbefore described frame 51The base 110 is provided with a plurality of tapered apertures 115 whichare so arranged that when the frame 111- is placed around thehereinbefore described frame 51 each plug 40 will be opposite acorresponding one of the apertures 115 in the base 110. Each of theseapertures 115 is adapted to receive the smaller tapered end 116 of anelectromagnet 117. A sufficient number of the electromagnets 117 areprovided to produce any desired line, figure,symbol or design upon thebase 110, and each of the electromagnets 117, when placed in position inthe base 110 is connected to a suitable battery or other source ofelectric energy whereby when the base 110 is superimposed upon the plate50 a plurality of the plugs 40 corresponding in number and arrangementto the number and arrangement of the electromagnets 117 will beattracted into operative positions to close 3, a flat rectangular base120, of insulating! material and of approximately the same length andWidth as the hereinbefore-described plate 91, is provided and issurrounded by and rigidly secured to a rectangular frame 121 which isproportioned to fit snugly but slidably about the hereinbefore describedframe 90. This frame 121 is provided with one or more handles 122 forconvenience of operation.

The base 120 is provided with a plurality of tapered apertures 124arranged so. that when the frame 121 is in position around the frame 90each plug 93 will be opposite a corresponding aperture 124. vA pluralitof tapered studs 125 are provided whic are adapted to be arranged in anysuitable desired manner in the apertures 124 and to be frictionally andsecurely held in position therein. These studs 125 ma be made of anysuitable material but pre erabl of comparatively non yielding material wich will be effective to press the hereinbefore described plugs 93 intooperative positions. It is evident that by arranging a suitable numberof studs 125 in any desired arrangement in the apertures 124 of the base120 and then placing the frame 121 around the ously illuminated, and byremoving the frame 121 and suitably moving the handle 102, all of thelamps thus lighted may be simultaneously extinguished.

Although only a few of the forms in which this invention may be embodiedhave been shown herein, it is understood that this invention is not tobelimited to any specific construction, but mi ht be embodiedin variousforms without eparting from the spirit :of this inventionor the scope ofthe ap ended claims.

avin thus fully tion, I c aim:

1. Electrical switching means comprising a plurality of magnetic switchmembers arran ed to be reciprocated respectively in pre eterminedstraight paths and separately movable from inoperative into operativepositions, and means movable in a predetermined path for simultaneouslymoving a plurality of said switch members from operative intoinoperative positions.

2. Electrical switching means comprising a plurality of magnetic switchmembers arran ed to be reciprocated respectively in redeterminedstraight substantiall parallel paths and separately movable rominoperative into operative positions and means movable in apredetermined path for simultaneously moving a pluralit of said switchmembers from operative into inoperative positions.

3. Electrical switching means including a described this inven- -plateand separatel plurality of separately movable magnetic switch membersand 'a transparent plate covering said members and movable to move aplurality of said members simultaneously from operative into inoperativeposition.

4. Electrical switching means including a plurality of magnetizableseparately movable switch members, and a transparent .plate ofinsulating material covering said members and movable to move aplurality of said switch members simultaneously from operative intoinoperative positions.

5. Electrical switchin means including a plurality of magnetizab eseparately movable switch members, and a transparent plateof insulatingmaterial covering said members and movable to move a plurality of saidswitch members simultaneously from operative into inoperative positions,and means movable with respect to said plate in a predetermined path tomove said plate in a predetermined path for simultaneously moving saidswitch members into inoperative positions.

6. An electrical switch system comprising a plurality of switch membersnormally arranged in inoperative positions substantially in the sameplane and separately movable respectively from saidinoperative positioninto operative positions, and a plate covering said members and throughwhich the positions of said members may be viewed, said plate beingmovable in a predetermined path for moving a plurality of saidmemberssimultaneously from operative into inoperative ositions.

7. An e ectrical switching system comprising a plate movable through apredetermined path from an operative into inoperative position, aplurality of switch members arranged upon one side of said movable inpredetermined paths respectively towards and away from said plate, thepositions of said members being operatively discernible through saidplate and said plate being operative while moving from operative intoinoperative position to move a plurality of said members from operativeinto inoperative positions.

8. An electrical switching system comprising a plate movable through apredetermined path from operative into ino erative position, a pluralityof switch mem ers arranged upon one side of said late and separatelymovable in predetermined paths respectively towards and away from saidplate, the positions of said members being operatively discerniblethrough said plate, and saidplate being operative while moving from. anoperative into an. inoperative position to move a plurality of saidmembers simultaneously from operative into in- Y operative positions.

9. An electrical switching system comprise aaaaaao ing a plate movablethrough a predetermined path from an operative into inoperativeposition, a plurality of switch members arranged upon one side of saidplate and separately movable in predetermined paths respectively towardsand away from said plate, the positions of said members beingdiscernible through said plate, and said plate being operative whilemoving from operative into inoperative position to move a plurality ofsaid members from operative into inoperative positions, and meansadapted to be moved across said plate upon the other side thereof forcausing said members to be selectively moved magnetically frominoperative into operative positions.

10. An electrical switching system comprising a plate movable through apredetermined path from an operative into inoperative position, aplurality of switch members arranged upon one side of said plate andseparately movable in predetermined paths respectively towards and awayfrom said plate, the positions of said members being operativelydiscernible through said plate, and said plate being operative whilemoving from an operative into an inoperative position to move aplurality of said members simultaneously from operative into inoperativepositions, and means adapted to be moved across said plate upon theother side thereof for causing said members to be sev simultaneouslylectively moved magnetically from inoperative into operative positions.

11. The combination with a plurality of magnetic, separably' movableswitch members, and a plate covering said members and adapted to serveas a guide for a magnet for moving said members selectively frominoperative to operative positions when said bers and said magnet servinas a guide for said magnet, said plate being movable to move a pluralitof said switch members rom operative to inoperative positions.

Signed at Gloucester, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts,this 26th day of May, A. D. 1916.

JOHN HAYS HAMMOND, JR.

' Witnesses:

WM. E. Kama, Lnsnm Buewnm...

lurality of separately movable

